Author: Tom Weston
Publisher: Tom Weston Media
ISBN: 9780981941349
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy
Synopsis: (from the back of the book):
The thing about El Dorado is . . . No, forget that. The thing about younger sisters is . . .
What’s an older sister to do? It’s not all fun fairs and ice-cream. Well, it is – but that’s beside the point. When one is in Luxembourg, there is a certain standard to maintain, and vacationing with Elves and Vampires is just so old school. But can Alex convince her younger sister, Jackie, of that? No, of course not, so she may as well get used to it.
But deep beneath the ancient city of Luxembourg there lies a secret. The Vampires believe it is protected by the Elf. The Elf believes it is protected by a prophecy concerning Alex and Jackie. And the sisters? They believe shoes in Luxembourg are too expensive.
Why are the Vampires going toe-to-toe with an Elf for the pleasure of the sisters’ company? Why does the Elf think Alex and Jackie can sing? And just who let Sir Walter Raleigh and the Conquistadors into this story?
To answer these questions will take all of the sisters’ cunning, bravery and imagination, as well as some souvenir shopping. Because this is the Elf of Luxembourg and this is an Alex and Jackie Adventure.
My Thoughts:
Take an elf, vampires and a mermaid and combine them with Luxembourg history. Add two teen girls and mix gently and you've got a fantastic story that is guaranteed to keep you entertained. "The Elf of Luxembourg" is a fantastic young adult novel that weaves history, humor and the paranormal all together and creates a novel that's hard to put down.
I enjoyed everything about this book, from the history lessons of Luxembourg, to the beautiful black and white photos, the interesting quotes, and the fascinating storyline. Mr. Weston has an interesting way of presenting things. I quote from his introduction: "Therefore consider the narrative to be a fictional account of real events, except for those chapters which pass for real accounts of fictional events. I hope this distinction helps." This quote really shows the feel of the book and playfulness of the author, making it a fun and very interesting read.
The characters were interesting. The elf was a charming character that you can't help but like. The main characters were teen sisters, Alex and Jackie, are both so very different. Their differences made them quite real and ended up being an important part to the storyline.
This book is the second in the Alex and Jackie adventure series, but is certainly able to be read as a stand-alone with no feeling that one has missed anything. I really enjoyed this book and certainly want to read the other books in the series.
If you would like to read them in order, the first Alex and Jackie adventure is: "First Night: Being a Ghost Story". Mr. Weston is currently working on the third installment.
About Tom Weston
Originally from England, Tom now resides in Boston, Massachusetts. Before turning his hand to fiction, Tom had a successful career as the CEO of a consulting company, conference speaker and writer of industry articles and business books. His novel, "First Night", set in Boston during the New Year’s Eve festival, introduced the unlikely heroines, Alex and Jackie, and the ghost of a 17th century Puritan named Sarah Pemberton. "First Night" won an Honorable Mention in the Middle-Grade/Young Adult category, in the Writers Digest 17th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards. The sequel to "First Night", called "The Elf of Luxembourg", was published in January, 2010. As with "First Night", "The Elf of Luxembourg" is also a supernatural mystery, with a blend of humor and history that has become Tom’s trademark. Tom is currently working on Book 3 of the Alex and Jackie Adventures, and is researching the background material for the story, which will be set in Ireland. Tom has also written the screenplay, "Fission", based on the true story of scientist, Lisa Meitner, and the race for the atomic bomb, and which was named a finalist at the London Independent Film Festival.
To learn more about Tom and the other books in the series, make sure to visit his website at: http://tom-weston.com/
I received a copy of this book from Pump Up Your Book to honestly review.
This is one I want to pick up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great and insightful review of The Elf of Luxembourg. You certainly have me pegged.
ReplyDeleteI hope the other Alex and Jackie Adventures live up to your expectations.
And an exclusive for you - Book 3 now has a title - 'Feathered: being a fairy tale' – you heard it here first :)
Regards,
Tom